M.O.N.A II

M.O.N.A II is a lighter, more transportable evolution of the original M.O.N.A installation, presented during the 16th edition of Chaos Médias. The project was created after I was invited to serve as a jury member for the event, alongside professionals from Ubisoft and Moment Factory, while representing La Cargaison. At the same time, I was given the opportunity to exhibit an installation, which led me to assemble a team of exceptional talents to revisit and rethink the concept.

This second iteration shifts toward a more subtle and unavoidable form of interaction. The installation takes the form of an industrial-style steel shelf with wooden panels, holding four CRT televisions of varying sizes. The scenography intentionally resembles an ordinary piece of furniture you might find in someone’s home, complete with speakers, plants, a grandmother-style blanket, and an iDog connected via audio jack that emits spontaneous sounds.

The visuals invite viewers to come closer, but doing so triggers M.O.N.A’s behavior. Using a webcam, the system captures the visitor’s face and stores it in its database. M.O.N.A then responds by displaying, on the main top screen, a previously captured image of that same visitor along with four other faces that most closely resemble them. If it is the first encounter, the system instead replays the most recent photo taken.

M.O.N.A II explores themes of recognition, memory, and consent through a deliberately casual and domestic setup. What appears harmless and familiar slowly reveals a system that observes, archives, and reacts on its own terms. I led the project as project lead and co-art director, coordinating the team and shaping the overall vision while working closely with the team on both technical and artistic decisions.

This project would not have been possible without the dedication of my incredible teammates.